2 Corinthians Chapters 1-5 and 1 Corinthians 16 Summary

Corinthians 16: Collection and Travel Plans

Paul discusses the collection for the saints in Jerusalem, instructing the Corinthians to follow the practice of the Galatian churches. He advises that on every first day of the week, each person should set aside a portion of their prosperity to avoid last-minute collections when he arrives. Upon his arrival, he plans to send trusted individuals with letters of accreditation to deliver the Corinthians' gift to Jerusalem. He intends to visit after passing through Macedonia and may spend the winter with them, asking for their assistance on his onward journey. He hopes to spend more time with them, if the Lord allows but will remain in Ephesus until Pentecost due to the opportunities and opposition there.

He anticipates Timothy's arrival and urges the Corinthians to make him feel comfortable, recognizing that Timothy is doing the Lord's work. Paul asks them to support Timothy's journey back to him, as he is expected to arrive with other brothers. Regarding Apollos, Paul has strongly encouraged him to visit Corinth with the others, but Apollos will come when he finds the opportune time. He encourages the Corinthians to be watchful, firm in faith, courageous, strong, and loving in all actions.

Paul acknowledges the household of Stephanus, the first converts in Achaia, who have dedicated themselves to serving the saints, and urges the Corinthians to submit to such individuals and fellow laborers. He expresses joy over the arrival of Stephanus, Fortinatus, and Achaicus, who have compensated for the Corinthians' absence and refreshed his and their spirits, instructing the church to recognize such contributions. Greetings are sent from the churches of Asia, and specifically from Aquila and Prisca, along with the church in their house and all the brothers. Paul includes a personal greeting written in his own hand, warning anyone who does not love the Lord to be accursed and prays for the Lord's return. The grace of Jesus and Paul's love are extended to all in Christ Jesus.

2 Corinthians 1: Paul's Authority and God's Comfort

Paul identifies himself as an apostle of Christ Jesus by God's will, along with Timothy, addressing the church of God in Corinth and all the saints in Achaia, offering grace and peace from God and Jesus Christ. He blesses God, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts them in affliction, enabling them to comfort others. Paul notes that their suffering abounds through Christ. Their affliction serves for the comfort and salvation of the Corinthians, while their comfort aids the Corinthians in enduring their own sufferings. Paul expresses unwavering hope in the Corinthians, confident that as they share in suffering, they will also share in comfort.

Paul shares the overwhelming affliction experienced in Asia, beyond their strength, even despairing of life. They felt sentenced to death, which forced them to rely on God who raises the dead. God delivered and will continue to deliver them, and Paul encourages the Corinthians to aid through prayer, so that many will give thanks for the blessings received through these prayers. Paul boasts of their conduct, marked by simplicity, godly sincerity, and divine grace, especially toward the Corinthians. He affirms that he writes only what they already understand and hopes for full acknowledgment, so they and the Corinthians may boast of each other on the day of the Lord Jesus.

Paul explains his initial plan to visit Corinth, intending a double experience of grace, by visiting on his way to Macedonia and again on his return to be assisted by them on his journey to Judea. He addresses potential accusations of vacillation, affirming that his word is as sure as God is faithful, never a contradictory "yes and no." Jesus Christ, is not "yes and no," but always "yes," in whom all God's promises are affirmed. Through Christ, they say "amen" to God for His glory. God establishes them in Christ, anointing and sealing them with His Spirit as a guarantee.

Paul calls on God as a witness that he refrained from visiting Corinth to spare them, clarifying that he does not lord over their faith but works with them for their joy, noting that they stand firm in their faith.

2 Corinthians 2: The Painful Visit and Forgiveness

Paul resolves not to make another painful visit to Corinth. If he causes them pain, who will bring him joy except those he has pained? He wrote to prevent suffering upon his arrival from those who should have brought him joy, confident that his joy is intertwined with theirs. His letter was written out of much affliction and anguish of heart, with many tears, not to cause pain, but to reveal his abundant love for them. He clarifies that any pain caused was not solely to him but, in some measure, to all of them.

Paul states that the punishment inflicted by the majority is sufficient, and they should instead forgive and comfort the offender to prevent overwhelming sorrow. He urges them to reaffirm their love for him, explaining that he wrote to test their obedience in everything. He states that he also forgives anyone they forgive for their sake in the presence of Christ, to prevent being outwitted by Satan, whose schemes are not unknown. He recounts his journey to Troas to preach the gospel, where, despite an open door, he found no rest due to the absence of Titus, leading him to leave and go on to Macedonia. Paul expresses thanks to God, who always leads them in triumphal procession in Christ and spreads the fragrance of His knowledge through them. He describes them as the aroma of Christ to God, perceived differently by those being saved (a fragrance from life to life) and those perishing (a fragrance from death to death) wondering who is sufficient for such a task. He contrasts their ministry with those who peddle God's word, affirming that they speak in Christ with sincerity, commissioned by God and in His sight.

2 Corinthians 3: Letter of Recommendation and the New Covenant

Paul questions whether they need to commend themselves again or require letters of recommendation. He asserts that the Corinthians themselves are their letter of recommendation, written on their hearts, known and read by all. They are a letter from Christ delivered by Paul, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. He expresses confidence through Christ toward God, stating that their sufficiency comes from God, who has made them competent to be ministers of a new covenant.

This new covenant is not of the letter but of the Spirit, contrasting it with the old, where “the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” The ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses' face, a glory that was temporary. So, the ministry of the Spirit must have even more glory. The ministry of condemnation had glory, but the ministry of righteousness far exceeds it. What once had glory now has no glory because of the surpassing glory of the new covenant. If the temporary came with glory, the permanent has much more glory. Paul says since they have such hope, they are very bold, unlike Moses, who veiled his face to hide the end of what was fading away. The minds of the Israelites were hardened, and to this day, the veil remains when the Old Covenant is read, removable only through Christ. Whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their hearts. When one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.

Paul equates the Lord with the Spirit and declares that where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. All, with unveiled faces, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, a transformation that comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 4: Treasure in Jars of Clay

Paul states that having their ministry by the mercy of God, they do not lose heart and have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. They refuse to practice cunning or distort God's word but commend themselves to every conscience by openly stating the truth in the sight of God. He clarifies that if the gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing, whose minds have been blinded by the god of this world, preventing them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. Paul asserts that they proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord, presenting themselves as servants for Jesus' sake. God, who commanded light to shine out of darkness, has shone in their hearts to give the light of the knowledge of God's glory in the face of Jesus Christ. They have this treasure in jars of clay to demonstrate that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to them. They are afflicted in every way but not crushed, perplexed but not in despair, persecuted but not abandoned, struck down but not destroyed. They carry in their bodies the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in their bodies.

They are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake so that his life may be revealed in their mortal flesh. Thus, death is at work in them, but life in the Corinthians. Having the same spirit of faith, they speak, knowing that God, who raised Jesus, will also raise them with Jesus and bring them with the Corinthians into his presence. All things are for the Corinthians’ sake, so that grace, extended to more and more people, may increase thanksgiving to the glory of God. Therefore, they do not lose heart. Though their outer nature is wasting away, their inner nature is being renewed day by day. The momentary affliction is preparing an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison as they look to the unseen, eternal things rather than the transient, seen things.

2 Corinthians 5: Eternal Home and Reconciliation

Paul states that they know that if their earthly tent (home) is destroyed, they have a building from God, an eternal house in the heavens, not made with hands. In this tent, they groan, longing to put on their heavenly dwelling, so that by doing so, they may not be found naked. While in this tent, they are burdened and groan, not wanting to be unclothed but further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. God has prepared them for this, giving them the Spirit as a guarantee. They are always of good courage, knowing that while at home in the body, they are away from the Lord, walking by faith, not by sight. They would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord, aiming to please Him whether at home or away. All must appear before the judgment seat of Christ to receive what is due for what they have done in the body, whether good or evil. Knowing the fear of the Lord, they persuade others.

Paul is not commending themselves again but giving the Corinthians reason to boast about them, so they can answer those boasting about outward appearance rather than what is in the heart. If they are out of their mind, it is for God; if they are in their right mind, it is for the Corinthians. The love of Christ controls them, and they have concluded that since one died for all, all have died. Therefore, he died for all, so that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for Him who died and was raised for their sake. From now on, they regard no one according to the flesh, even though they once regarded Christ in this way. If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled them to Himself and gave them the ministry of reconciliation. In Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting people’s trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to them. Therefore, they are ambassadors for Christ, with God making his appeal through them, imploring people on behalf of Christ to be reconciled to God. For their sake, God made him who knew no sin to be sin, so that in him they might become the righteousness of God.